There are some folks you can count on to consistently oppose what you advocate. I think this predictability is helpful and saves me some time when I need to search for resources. I like to challenge the students in the “pro technology” classes I teach to determine what they might say to refute the position of X (insert name of famous anti-technology person here). For example, I still sometimes show a Nightline tape I purchased (9/30/98) because it quickly establishes the positions of a number of individuals and ask that students identify key arguments and possible counter arguments. Books are also a nice way to present the “other view”. I buy and read these books, but my students seem to think it is too much of an investment on their part to do the same.
I bring this up because it appears there is a new book of this genre. Todd Oppenheimer has a new book called The Flickering mind: The false promise of technology in classrooms (see review).
{sarcastic rant} The arguments seem to be about the same (my simplified and obviously biased interpretation follows) — schools seem impervious to true change and yet spend money on new technologies (insert historical reference to TV, film, radio — I would also suggest insert book, but that one seemed to work). We have no strong research evidence that the innovation (insert innovation of your choice) improves performance on standardized multiple choice examinations. Since these “technologies” never seem to stand the test of time (unless one considers use of said technology in any venue external to schools) and have little research support, these pointless experiments cost money that might better serve some other purpose. {/sarcastic rant}
